News

We received the following information from ATA and wanted you all to be aware:

For the past two weeks and individual identifying himself as Larry Davis is calling Truck Driving schools representing that he is a recruiter for Knight Transportation, gleaning names of students from the school and then promising them a trainer if the student will wire him $200 dollars. Several individuals have been scammed.

At least one of the students in Florida has filed a police report. We wanted to get the word out to all to be aware! There is no Mr. Davis at Knight and they do not charge students.

Organization’s highest honor goes to long-time proponent of finding and trainingthe professional truck drivers of tomorrow

Grapevine, Texas -- The Professional Truck Driver Institute, Inc. (PTDI) is pleased to announce that it has selected Terry Burnett, CIC, CRM, president of Burnett Insurance Corporation of Little Rock, Arkansas, and chairman of PTDI since 2008, as the 2014 recipient of the Lee J. Crittenden Memorial Award. The award was bestowed March 25, 2014, at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, during the annual convention of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), the organization that manages PTDI.

Delays and inconsistencies with the way states test applicants for commercial driver licenses are undermining efforts to place truck driver training school graduates in jobs, according to officials who have asked Congress to act.

Don Lefeve, president of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association in Springfield, Va., said it takes up to 45 days for CDL applicants in some states to arrange a skills test due to inadequate staffing and a limited number of testing facilities.

As a consequence of delays in issuing licenses, Lefeve said, many qualified applicants give up or find other jobs, hurting the ability of motor carriers to fill jobs and tying up equipment at state testing sites that could be used for ongoing instruction.

To speed up the process, Lefeve said, states need to expand the number of third-party testing sites.

“Our data show that 29 states offer third-party testing,” Lefeve said. “Of these states, 12 offer it through a very restricted program; meaning through a community college only. An additional 12 states only conduct testing through state-funded officials or sites… Continue reading…

The struggles of the nation’s trucking fleet to attract and retain qualified drivers have been well-documented in the pages of Transport Topics for many years now.

From long stretches of time away from home for longhaul drivers to the continued frustration with burdensome government regulations to the indecisiveness to seriously tackle highway funding and congestion issues, being a professional truck driver takes a special type of person.

Don Lefeve, president of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, said it can take up to 45 days for CDL applicants in some states to arrange a skills test due to inadequate staffing and a limited number of testing facilities... Continue reading.

Our next Webinar "All Politics is Local - Let Your Voice Be Heard" is scheduled for this Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. CVTA's President and CEO Don Lefeve will present the webinar and share his years of experience and knowledge on what you need to do to establish and improve relationships with Federal, State and Local political figures.

This is a Webinar not to be missed! You and your company have an important story to tell and this Webinar will provide you with the information to ensure your voice is heard by the politicians who represent you.

If you wish to participate please contact us or call the CVTA Office 703-642-9444.

Washington, D.C. - Commercial Vehicle Training Association's (CVTA) President and CEO Don Lefeve released the following statement on the President's 2015 Budget Request:

"CVTA and our member schools are dedicated to helping keep the US economy moving forward by providing high quality education and training to the next generation of professional truck drivers. We applaud the President's budget for its focus on new investments that empower workers with skills and training for in-demand careers such as truck driving. We do, however, feel that more work lies ahead.

While we believe the President is on the right track in focusing on industries in high demand, in our view, we also need the Department of Labor to recognize national in-demand industries, such as trucking, which hire professional drivers from all parts of the United States.

With an anticipated industry shortfall of nearly 239,000 drivers over the next 10 years, we see the need to work directly with all stakeholders, including carriers, truck driving schools, and community colleges to achieve an ultimate goal of training people to join the ranks of the professional truck driving industry. Doing so is good not only for professional truck drivers but also good for the American economy as it can provide up to 239,000 possible careers that cannot be outsourced. We look forward to working with the President and Congress to do everything possible to effectively train these new industry professionals so we may fill these critical jobs and keep America moving forward."

About CVTA

CVTA is the largest trade association representing the interests of truck driving schools, students and the businesses that depend on their services. Working with members and partners on critical industry issues, CVTA is the voice of commercial vehicle education throughout the United States. Together we are shaping the future of safer transportation.

Washington, DC - The Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, chaired by U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), will hold a roundtable policy discussion on Wednesday with representatives of the transportation community in preparation for the development of a surface transportation reauthorization bill.

The federal surface transportation programs were most recently reauthorized in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, which was enacted on July 6, 2012. MAP-21 expires in September, and Wednesday’s roundtable is part of the Committee’s process for developing the next bill.

The roundtable is open to the public, and is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building. The roundtable will not be webcast.

In addition to Subcommittee Members, roundtable participants will include:

· The Honorable Bill Graves, President and CEO, American Trucking Associations